At 6-foot-9-inches tall, Maurice Thomas is a natural for a modeling job, but is he good enough to be selected as one of the first male competitors on "America's Next Top Model"? The 21-year-old from Boston thinks he has a chance, as does Kyle Regis, 25, of Boston, and Marvin Horsley, 26, of Providence.

The three young men were among about a dozen males who showed up for a local casting call for "America's Next Top Model" on Saturday.

Chris Raffa, creative services director at CW 28 WLWV Providence, the local network that airs the reality television show, said the model hopefuls started lining up at the Party Dress Express on Saturday at 8:45 a.m, for the local casting call from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Party Dress Express, 657 Quarry St. in the Tower Mill complex.

As of noon, about 75 young women and men had filled out applications and the line waiting to

meet with the panel of judges from the station snaked around the hallway of the Tower Mill.

Raffa said the "big thing" about the casting for the show's 10th season, is the inclusion of males. "That's going to make it interesting," he added. The winner of the modeling reality show starting, Tyra Banks, will receive $100,000, a layout in a top magazine, and exposure to other modeling opportunities.

In addition to meeting the height and age criteria, candidates were judged on how well they photographed and performed on the "catwalk" inside the dressing rooms of the formal dress store. Raffa said the field of competitors will also be judged on their personalities and how well — or not well – they'd get along with the other contestants, who they live with throughout the season.

The local judges at CW28 WLWV will select a male and a female candidate from this casting call to recommend to the national casting agents for "America's Next Top Model." If selected, they will need to go through another round of casting in California before making it to the show.

The lengthy process of getting onto the show didn't deter Shea Laboa, 19, of New Bedford, who has watched every season and "been stalking it (a spot on the show) for a while. "I lost five pounds. I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but it was," she added.

Regis, who graduated from Roger Williams College School of Architecture with a master's degree, said he became interested in fashion while studying architecture. A native of Acushnet, Regis said a slot on the show provides the exposure for a modeling career.

Donna Holland, owner of Party Dress Express said she was excited to see the good turnout for the casting call in her store and hopes at least one of the contestants makes it to the television show. "They're all beautiful girls, and good-looking guys — I can't imagine the judges won't see something in one of them," she said.